Juveniles: dependent children.

Existing law governs the placement of dependent children. The juvenile court, after considering various reports and receiving evidence in a proceeding to terminate parental rights to a dependent child, is authorized to make findings and orders in a specified order of preference that governs the actions that the court may take with respect to the child. Under existing law, adoption is the first preferred order. If the court finds that the child is unlikely to be adopted, the court may appoint a relative with whom the child is currently residing or a nonrelative as the child's legal guardian, in that order, as an alternative to long-term foster care placement. This bill would authorize a court to appoint a nonrelative or relative with whom the child is not currently residing as legal guardian for the child and to order that letters of guardianship be issued.